Le Trec? Any experiences/info?

cc14

cc14

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Eventually I would love to be able to take my new horse out to do a bit of lighthearted competing. Eventually (in a million years time) I will perhaps grow the confidence to do ODE's, as he could do really well with a bit of work. Dressage is out of the question for now as he is still a little green and has lots of schooling work to do! Im also too wimpy to do SJ at the mo.

Owner of old share horse went out and did Le Trec and until then I had never heard of it. From my very limited and basic understanding my boy would be great at it, it all sounds like good fun, lighthearted etc.

So basically does anyone here do it for fun/competitively? How do the levels work? What stages are there? Basically a description for dummies would be fab :D
 
Well, I did my first full trec this weekend, but I've done indoor trecs a few times previously. I'm sure there are more "expert" posters on here who can correct any of my ramblings if I go off piste as it were, but...

There are 3 stages in a full competition - control of paces (CoP), orienteeringy hack (PoR) and the obstacle course (PTV). For CoP you have to canter slowly and walk quickly along a narrow corridor (there are set times which you aim for to get the maximum score). The PoR stage involves copying down a route onto a blank map and following that route whilst trying to keep to a predetermined speed between checkpoints (each section has an optimum time, but you don't know where the checkpoints are or what that time is!). Then the PTV involves natural style jumps, gates, mounting, narrow corridors, rein back, bending, immobility, low branch simulations and other hacking style obstacles (for more info, I'd see the BHS website or the trec-uk site / forum).

There are 4 levels - 1 -4 - through which the orienteering route gets progressively longer ad more complex and the obstacles get harder / higher. Leve 3+ can have night orienteering phases and navigation without maps (by bearings) too. Probably better to start with 1 or 2 ;) (1 is up to12km; 2 is up to 20km). Better still, some places run training days, or you could go to a winter trec and learn a bit more / have a go at the CoP and PTV phases.

Where abouts are you?

The BHS website has a list of the events - full ones and winter series (without the POR). It's good fun, worth travelling a bit if there's nothing very local :D Most of the events run over the summer though so not the best time to get into it really ;)
 
I've been on a couple of Le Trec training days, had such a good time. First time on YO's pony as mine was 'off the road' he's so laid back he made it quite easy, except 'control' is not easy with him as he is quite stubborn. 2nd time was on my horse, she's easier to control - direction/speed, but somewhat spooky - did her the world of good.

Would love to do it again.
 
It's great fun, not too taxing at the lower level and you don't need any fancy gear. I also like the fact that you're not penalised. If, for any reason, you don't complete any parts, you just don't get the points for it rather than getting 'faults'.
As said before, BHS site is very good
 
I bought the rule book from the BHS that clarifies all the stages and the obstacles. We have run a number of mini training sessions at the yard using the info the book contains.

I hope to have a go once the boy is back in work.
 
JFTD's post was spot on, best way to start is to attend a training session/indoor trec or see if you can find someone more experienced to do a Level 1 pairs class with.

It's a great sport, and so accessible with practically any horse or pony. The people I have met through it have all been lovely and were happy to answer all my stupid questions when I did my first few competitions.

Definitely give it a go :)
 
Thanks everyone :D The orienteering and walk/canter bit sounds right up our street. But seeing as I have the worlds shortest legs, have to use a rather large mounting block and battle the little dance he likes to do as I get on, not to mention occasional navigation issues so to speak, I think the third section may prove too much for now anyway!

To those who said training days, does it involve all 3 sections or can you pick and choose? Would love to have a go at the orienteering with him!
 
That's one of the great things about trec, if you don't want to do an obstacle then you don't have to! Each 'obstacle' is marked out of 10, if you don't do it you obviously won't score any marks but you will not be eliminated.

I have friends who compete who don't do the jumps and another who is very little and has a 17hh ISH so doesn't do the mounting from the ground. Quite often one of the obstacles is loading into a trailer and there are often a few people who 'miss' that out.

The training days are normally just a simulated obstacles section, I think there were some videos on youtube if you want an idea.

:)
 
I've done trec since i was 8 (Im 16 now!) and mum's been involved since 2001 and we still enjoy it :) Im off to the championships this weekend to do the level 3 (We've been 4th the past two years at level 3 GB Champs :) ) and i have done level 4 too :) Would highly recomend and very social sport!
 
There are several clubs around the country which run training days and events. Look on the BHS website and there is a Trec discussion group too.

The Control of Paces and the obstacle/handy pony part (duck while competitiors throw stuff at me as they don't like it being called that, although it is!) are great fun to train for, and the better schooled your horse generally the better he is going to do - it also gives a lot of focus for your schooling rather than going endlessly round in circles. The rule book gives a description of the obstacles you MIGHT meet, although it won't be all of them at one event. An indoor Trec will also show you what is required. I am always surprised at how a horse can let you down, even the Open competitors can make ghastly mistakes! It is really fun training your horse to stand and stay, go under "low branches", rein back straight between poles, go round bending poles - try doing that at a canter! - and all the other various amusements thought up by the organisers.

If you decide to go ahead with a full Trec, with navigation/map reading, I would STRONGLY advise that you go with a partner who has done one before for the first time. I did my first with a partner, and I think I would have given up in tears and gone home if I had tried to do that one by myself. However, the next I went as an individual.

I think it is a shame there aren't more of these competitions, indoor and outdoor, but they need a lot of helpers to help, even the indoor, judging the obstacles and being at checkpoints and then doing the scoring afterwards, so it is a rather mamoth undertaking.
 
I am doing my first one tomorrow, i have never done one before and it is one that has been organised by my local Bridleway Association.

I am really looking forward to it and have been practicing some obstacle type exercises (trotting round poles, going over tarpaurline, mounting from the wrong side etc). As well asthe control of paces, i am rubbish at map reading but i roughly know the area i am going to so hopefully wont get too lost.

I am hoping that it is something i can get into as i am just normally a happy hacker but would like to do something abit different.
 
Yes I compete regularly, only at level 1 though as my horse is older and I'm not going to ask him to do the length and speeds of the higher levels . I love it and have gone home with rosettes even from championships . The Control of paces is such fun and a little dressage training helps a lot.
The POR ( orienteering ) is great seeing new places all the time and I don't do any of the obstacles I don't want to do ( mounting , low branches) and often get lucky with ones that suit me .
It doesn't matter anyway as I enjoy it so much .
 
claudiacox14 said:
But seeing as I have the worlds shortest legs, have to use a rather large mounting block and battle the little dance he likes to do as I get on, not to mention occasional navigation issues so to speak, I think the third section may prove too much for now anyway!

To those who said training days, does it involve all 3 sections or can you pick and choose? Would love to have a go at the orienteering with him!
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All the indoors and the outdoor I did this weekend have had blocks and haven't had mounting from the ground as an obstacle - but even if they had mounting from the ground in the PTV, as others have said, you don't have to do it - you don't get eliminated or faults, you just get no points for that (0 of a max 10, the whole thing is out of 400-odd) so it's not a big deal :)

There are some orienteering training days without the other phases - worth keeping an eye out - you're roughly in the area for the south east trec club - all their stuff goes on their website which is worth taking a look at.

I survived a level 2 this weekend and I've never navigated anywhere in my life, so I wouldn't worry to much about it - if I can do it, anyone can :o

My horse is a saint though... :D
 
claudiacox14 said:
Really appreciate everyones help! Off to do some online investigating with my new found knowledge :rolleyes:
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Forgot the most important advice - always take someone with a camera for some nice PTV photos :D And tell us how you get on, with pretty pictures on here too please :D
 
Mahoganybay said:
I am doing my first one tomorrow, i have never done one before and it is one that has been organised by my local Bridleway Association.

I am really looking forward to it and have been practicing some obstacle type exercises (trotting round poles, going over tarpaurline, mounting from the wrong side etc). As well asthe control of paces, i am rubbish at map reading but i roughly know the area i am going to so hopefully wont get too lost.

I am hoping that it is something i can get into as i am just normally a happy hacker but would like to do something abit different.
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would that be in Birtle by any chance? ;):p
 
diggerbez said:
would that be in Birtle by any chance? ;):p
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It was indeed, and it was great and very well organised.

The control of paces was erm interesting, my horse started bucking when the steward put his arm down to start the time, came well out of the line before i managed to get control but once he had calmed down he went great.

The obstacle course was good fun although he would not go over the bridge.

The orienteering was good too, although we got seriously lost, we still managed to complete it in just over 2 hours.

We came 9th in pairs & my partner came 6th individually, so for my first time i think we did fab.

Diggerbez - did you go?
 
I did my first full trec this weekend in essex and had a brilliant time! It was my little lads first ever competition (barring an indoor one last winter), plus his first ever camping trip away from home as we did the level 3 (my pair was too well qualified for level 2 and my pony needed the longer orienteering ride, 12km didn't seem worth it!). Everyone was lovely and really helpful, with a great evening atmosphere with meal etc.

My only difficulty is map reading when the pony is being a hyper little creature, but going with a pair takes some of the pressure off. In the control of paces his canter is still lacking balance and adjustability, so we set something of a land speed record, and then in the obstacle section I missed a couple of obstacles, but as long as you tell the judge then they don't mind.

I really enjoyed it and will definitely go back! Plus the pony loves the training, he nickers at me every time he does an obstacle well and gets praised for it.
 
Mahoganybay said:
It was indeed, and it was great and very well organised.

The control of paces was erm interesting, my horse started bucking when the steward put his arm down to start the time, came well out of the line before i managed to get control but once he had calmed down he went great.

The obstacle course was good fun although he would not go over the bridge.

The orienteering was good too, although we got seriously lost, we still managed to complete it in just over 2 hours.

We came 9th in pairs & my partner came 6th individually, so for my first time i think we did fab.

Diggerbez - did you go?
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thats a great result, well done :D
. i was first aiding- glad you didn't need my assistance :p
 
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